This enquiry focuses on the use of child labour in the nineteenth century. It uses the classic interpretation of historian E.P. Thompson to explore this darker side of industrial progress.
Thompson contends that the ‘exploitation’ of child workers was ‘one of the most shameful events in our history’.
Students are first tasked with defining/providing the criteria for ‘shameful’, before examining evidence to support and challenge this view.
Finally, students are asked to write a response to the historian, outlining their new findings. This enquiry gets students to engage with a really foundational historical interpretation – and empowers them to explore and challenge it!
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- Lesson presentation: PowerPoint
- Lesson write-up: PDF
- Resource 1 and 2: PDF
